Jayden Nacu (10) dribbles the ball to the top of the key, his jersey swishing as he stops, looking up to find a pass at Sundance Elementary School, May 12. Unlike his normal high school games, his teammates in this game are all in first through third grade. He passes to a student who shoots the ball. It swishes through the net and the Nacu and the student cheer and high five.
Westview’s Building Active Little Leaders (B.A.L.L.) club visits local elementary school ESS programs once a week to lead basketball-based games. Nacu said that he created the club to help Westview students have fun and foster positive relationships with students at local schools.
“I wanted to make something that I’m interested in, but also [create] a way to involve other people,” Nacu said. “Not everyone [who comes] knows how to play basketball, but being good at talking to kids and acting as a role model is also important. It’s really fun playing, teaching the kids, trying to help them learn, and giving back to the community.”
Going back to his elementary school reminded him of how important it was for him to have a space to play sports and explore his passions like basketball.
“I went to Sundance, and that’s where I was able to have fun and play basketball too,” Nacu said. “I think it’s really important to stay active, but especially to have fun with it, because if you’re not having fun doing whatever sport you love, there’s really no point. Personally, in sixth grade, I found a passion for basketball. I feel like it definitely helped me, and I want to spread that passion.”
Nacu said his goal was to be a positive influence on the kids he interacts with at Westview B.A.L.L.’s ESS events.
“I think that, as an elementary-schooler, having someone to look up to is important,” Nacu said. “When I was younger, it felt really cool to hang out with older people, and I want to be that [person] for them. Just to have that, I think, is really cool for the kids.”
Nacu said that the club’s focus is on creating an uplifting environment and teaching kids how to play basketball with a positive attitude.
“When we are on the blacktop and going through the games, we’re also giving out reminders on how we can act [positively],” Nacu said. “We have also had to face different situations of older kids being mean or playing rough, so we have to respond to that and stay positive.”
Nacu said that he transforms games into basketball drills so that practicing becomes enjoyable for the kids.
“I want to make learning basketball fun for everyone because it goes from really little kids to third-graders, so I use basketball games instead of drills to teach them,” Nacu said. “I incorporate a bunch of fun games that I would have wanted to play. We play Simon Says while dribbling, and kids see how long they can dribble with their left and right hands.”
Nacu said that being a part of a basketball team and getting to know his teammates is important to him. He said that teamwork was something he wanted the kids to experience and learn from.
“Being around each other, playing basketball, I think that’s where [my teammates and I] have fun,” Nacu said. “We’ve been playing together as teammates since middle school and getting to know each other. So, I think creating that kind of an environment where kids are able to learn through teamwork while being able to have fun with each other is really what we’re coming from. It comes from being a part of a team.”
Nacu said he has gotten to know many of the kids over time and enjoys seeing them have fun every week with the sport that he is so passionate about. As the school year comes to a close, Nacu said he wants to continue his elementary school sessions into the summer.
“We see the same kids, and they have a lot of fun,” Nacu said. “We were giving them stickers afterwards, and they didn’t really say it directly to me, but I saw it on their faces. Just competing and having fun playing basketball is what it’s all about. You could just tell that they’re having fun. We’re gonna definitely do it over summer too, at least twice a month. I’ve been having a lot of fun with this, so I definitely just want to keep growing. I’m proud to have the opportunity to build connections with students and give back to my community while incorporating my love for basketball.”
